Lighting fixture with adjustable beam director



F. L. GREEN Feb. 21, I967 LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH ADJUSTABLE BEAM DIRECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1964 INVENTOR FREDERICLEEGREEN F. ,L. GREEN Feb. 21, 1967 LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH ADJUSTABLE BEAM DIRECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 23 Filed Oct. 2, 19:64

INVENTOR. FREDERIC LEEGREEN AT ORNEYS United States Patent ce 3,305,681 LIGHTEJG FIXTURE WITH ADJUSTABLE BEAM DIRECTOR Frederic Lee Green, El Cerrito, Calif, assignor to Prescolite Manufacturing Corporation, San Leandro, Calif.,

a corporation of California Filed Oct. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 401,046 12 Claims. (Cl. 24078) This invention relates to lighting fixtures in general, and is particularly directed to a lighting fixture having means for facilitating adjustment of the orientation of a beam directing lamp housing or beam director through a substantial solid angle.

Directed beam lighting fixtures generally include an opaque light housing within which a flood light, or equivalent light source may be operatively mounted, the housing having a beam outlet at one end through which the light rays emanating from the source emerge as a collimated beam having substantial directivity. Such a light housing may thus be termed a beam director by virtue of the directional characteristics of the light transmitted therefrom. By virtue of the directivity of the emergent light beam, it is usually desirable that provision be made to facilitate adjustment of the orientation of the beam director so as to afford some versatility of control over the area which may be illuminated. Heretofore, various mounting arrangements have been employed in connection with the beam director to enable the orientation thereof to be varied. However, conventional adjustable mountings have generally been either relatively complex in design or limited in their degree of director adjustment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a directed beam lighting fixture featuring a simple beam director mounting arrangement which yet facilitates adjustment of the beam director through a relatively large solid angle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a beam director mounting arrangement of the class described whereby the beam director may be adjusted through a hemisphere of directivity.

' A more specific object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture having a beam directing light housing of ellipsoidal cross section mounted for slidable circumferential movement within a circular support ring which is rotatable about an axis angularly related to the plane of the ring whereby the angular orientation of the housing is varied by a substantial amount as the housing is translated around the inner circumference of the ring and the ring is moved about its rotational axis.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fixture of the class described which for low voltage applications may be arranged such that no wiring is externally visible.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a lighting fixture with adjustable beam director in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front end view of the fixture.

FIGURE 3 is a rear end view of the fixture.

FIGURE 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the fixture on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a detail view of a support ring of the fixture.

3,305,681 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 FIGURE 6 is an elevation view partially in section of a modified form of the fixture.

FIGURE 7 is a view taken at plane 7-7 of FIGURE 6 with the beam director of the fixture removed.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken at plane 8-8 of FIGURE 6 with the beam director of the fixture removed.

FIGURE 9 is a central longitudinal sectional view of another modified form of fixture.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURES 1-5 in particular, there will be seen to be provided a lighting fixture which includes a beam director 11 from which a light beam may be transmitted with substantial directivity. The director includes a light housing 12 of opaque material having a socket 13 mounted therein for receiving a flood light 14, or equivalent light source. The socket is preferably mounted adjacent one end of the housing which is substantially closed, as by means of a closure plate 16, with the socket facing the opposite end of the housing. The latter end of the housing is arranged to serve as a beam outlet, and in this regard may be open, have a louvered diffuser plate 17 mounted therein, or be other wise rendered at least partially pervious to light rays. It will be thus appreciated that light rays emanating from the flood light 14 are collimated in passing through the housing and emerge from the outlet end thereof as a directed beam. By virtue of the directed nature and relatively small cross section of the beam transmitted from the director 11, the area illuminated by the beam is limited. It is therefore advantageous that provision be made to vary the direction of the beam as desired.

In accordance with the particularly salient aspects of the invention variation of the direction of the beam transmitted from the director 11 is facilitated by a novel director mounting arrangement which permits variation of the director orientation through a relatively wide solid angle to thus eifect a corresponding variation of beam direction. In fact, the mounting arrangement is such that the beam may be swept through a hemisphere. More particularly, in accordance with the mounting arrangement, the director housing 12 is of elliptical cross section and is disposed within a circular support ring 18 inclined at an appropriate angle to the longitudinal axis of the housing such that the inner circumference of the ring is everywhere contacted by the periphery of the housing. This angle of inclination is equal to that for which the projection of a circle is an ellipse having major and minor axes equal to those of the housing cross section. The housing is slidable along the inner circumference of the ring, and thus with the ring in a fixed angular position the orientation of the housing may be varied by rotating the housing within the ring. The orientation of the housing maybe varied in this manner through a compound are of from horizontal to vertical when the ring is inclined at 45 to the longitudinal axis of the housing and to the vertical and the housing cross section is a 45 ellipse, i.e., an ellipse produced by a 45 projection of a circle. In order to maintain the inclined relation between the support ring 18 and thelongitudinal axis of the housing 12, as well as to prevent longitudinal movement of the housing through the ring, a pair of rollers 19, pins, or equivalent retaining means are mounted upon the housing exterior at positions of bearing engagement with opposite side portions of the ring. Preferably, the rollers are longitudinally offset and transversely opposed preferably at points corresponding to the opposite ends of the minor axis of the elliptical cross section. The rollers thus bear against opposite sides of the ring and retain the inclination between the ring and longitudinal axis of the housing during orientation varying rotation of the housing within the ring.

With the above noted variation of beam direction through a compound are of 90 facilitated by rotation of the director housing 12 within the support ring 18, full directional control of the beam emanating from the housing over a hemisphere, i.e., 180 solid angle, is readily obtained by appropriately r-otatably mounting the support ring. More particularly, where the ring is inclined at 45 to the vertical, full directional control is obtained by providing for rotation of the ring about a vertical axis. Thus, at any angular position of rotation of the ring about the vertical axis, the director housing may be moved through its compound are of 90, such that by a combination of the rotary movement of the ring and rotary movement of the housing within the ring, full directional control is provided. Of course, in other situations, the ring may be mounted for rotation about axes having angular orientations relative to the plane of the ring other than the 45 inclination of the foregoing specific case.

Considering now the adjustable beam director lighting fixture in greater detail with respect to the embodiment thereof depicted in FIGURES l5, it is to be noted that the ring 18 is preferably of square cross section with diagonally opposed corner edge portions defining the inner and outer circumferences of the ring. With the illustrated 45 inclination of the ring relative to the housing axis, right angularly intersecting flat faces 22, 23 are engaged by the respective rollers 19. A hanger stem 24 is then conveniently perpendicularly and rotationally secured to a flat face 26 of the ring parallel and opposite face 22 to provide a 45 inclination between the stem and ring. The stem is preferably tubular and rotational connection between the stem and ring may be facilitated, for example, by means of a stud 27 threading a tap 28 provided in face 26 of the ring. The stud extends coaxially into the open end of the stem and a set screw 29 threaded radially through the stem wall loosely engages a circumferential groove 31 formed in the stud, to thereby complete the rotatable connection. The free end of the stem is secured perpendicularly to a mounting disc 32, or the like, adapted for attachment to a ceiling or other wall. Lead-in wires 33 extend through the interior of the stem and emerge through an aperture in the wall thereof to be in turn led through the closure plate 16 of the housing into electrical connection with the socket 13.

With the lighting fixture provided as just described and the mounting disc secured, for example, to a ceiling, the hanger stem 24 depends vertically therefrom with the ring 18 inclined at 45 to the horizontal and vertical. The beam director housing 12 may be rotated within the ring through a compound arc of 90 between horizontal and vertical positions. If desired a stop pin (not shown) or the like may be provided to project from one of the ring faces 22, 23 for engagement with one of the rollers 19 to thereby locate, for example, the horizontal position of the housing. The ring may also be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the stem 24 to thereby provide full directional control over the beam emanating from the housing. A stop (not shown) may be associated with the stem and stud 27, for example, to limit rotation of the ring to 360, if desired.

Various departures from the fixture embodiment of FIGURES 15 are of course possible, and in this regard the ring 18 may be of other than square cross section, e.g., circular, triangular, etc. Moreover, the support ring may be provided as portions of a mounting member bordering a circular hole, such as in the case of the modified form of fixture illustrated in FIGURES 6-8. In this regard, a recessed fixture 34 is provided for mounting in a ceiling, floor, side wall, etc., including a beam director 36 which is substantially similar to the beam director 11 previously described. The director 36 is provided with a light housing 37 having an elliptical cross section, and flood lamp and other components similar to those of the beam director 11, and accordingly not described again. Of particular novelty in the fixture 34 is the provision of the support ring in the form of a concave mounting member 38 having a conflguration somewhat approaching a doubly truncated cone.- Such member is constructed of opaque material such as sheet or case metal and may be described as including a ctr= cular planar portion 39 merging with a curving concavo convex portion 41. The circular planar portion is in= clined with respect to a plane 42 containing the rim of the member, and this rim is circular. The planar portion 39 is provided with a round concentric opening 43, the margin of which functions in a manner analogous to that of the support ring 13 of the previously described embodiment. The director light housing 37 is mounted in the opening 43 for slidable rotatable movement along its circumference. Pins 44, or equivalent retaining means carried by the housing contact the opposite edges of the border of the opening to retain the housing in inclined relation to the opening.

The member 38 is rotatably mounted with respect to a fixture housing 46 mounted in recessed position within an opening 47 provided in a ceiling 48, as by means of plaster flange 49. More particularly, an annular trim flange 51 is provided in operative association with the fixture hou's= ing 46 to bridge the circumferential rim thereof, and engage the portions of the ceiling about the ceiling opening 47. The trim flange 51 has an intermediate upstanding rim 52 which extends into the fixture housing and is parallel to the peripheral wall thereof. An inwardly flared portion 53 of flange 51 thus extends right angularly from the base of the rim 52. The rim of member 38 is then provided with an outwardly flared annular flange 54 which is supported upon the portion 53 of flange 51 in rotatable relation thereto. Spring clips 56 secured to rim 52 and resiliently engaging the flange 54 of member 38 serve to retain the member in position while permitting rotation thereof relative to the fixture housing. Lead-in wires 57 emanating from a junction box 58 carried by the fixture housing 46 and extending into the beam director housing 37 facilitate energization of the socket (not shown) thereof.

The particular configuration of the recessed fixture 34 does not permit the beam director housing 37 to be adjusted to a full horizontal position. Accordingly, the planar portion 39 of the mounting member 38 may be inclined at an angle somewhat less than 45 from the plane 42, which in the present case is horizontal. For example, the planar 39 may be inclined at an angle of 35 from the horizontal, in which case the director housing 37 may be adjusted from a vertical position to an angle depressed 20 from horizontal. The cross section of the director housing is in this specific case a 35 ellipse to match the inclination of the planar portion 39. Although the director housing cannot be adjusted to a full horizontal position, it will be appreciated that when the adjustment of the housing is combined with rotation of the mounting member 38, the beam emanating from the housing is still swept through a relatively large solid angle, in the above exemplary case, a solid angle of Referring now to FIGURE 9, there is illustrated another modified form of fixture in accordance with the invention which is intended for use with relatively low voltages of, for example, 12 volts, and is arranged such that the lead-in wiring is entirely concealed. More particularly, the fixture includes a beam director 59 with elliptical cross section housing 60 of the same character as those described with respect to the previous embodiments. Similarly, a support ring 61 is provided which is preferably of square cross section as in the case of ring 18. Right angularly intersecting flat faces 62, 63 of the ring are provided with annular conducting strips 64, 66 mounted in recessed position therein and insulated from each other. The ring 61 may be of insulating material in which case the strips may be merely imbedded in the ring faces to provide the requisite insulation therebetween. In the event the ring is of conducting material, layers 67, 68 of insulating material may be interposed between the recessed strips and adjacent surfaces of the ring. The housing 60 is disposed within the ring 61 in the manner described with respect to the previous embodiments. In the instant embodiment the means for re taining the housing in inclined relation to the ring also serve as electrical contacts which bear upon the conducting strips 64, 66. More particularly, a contact screw 69, pin, or the like, is mounted on the housing 60 in insulated relation thereto. Where the housing 60 is of metal, or other conducting material, the screw 69 may extend through an insulating bushing 71 mounted in the wall of the housing in order to provide the requisite insulation. The screw is provided with an enlarged head which projects into contact with the conducting strip 64. The other contact is preferably in the form of a spring clip 72 mounted upon the housing, and in the case of a conducting housing insulated therefrom as by means of an interposed layer 73 of insulating material. The spring clip 72 contacts the conducting strip 66, and by virtue of the resilient nature of the clip, the clip and screw are maintained in contact with the strips. Wires 74, 76 disposed within the housing connect the screw and clip to respective terminals of a socket 77 mounted within the housing and adapted to receive a flood lamp 78 or the like. A tubular hanger stem "79 is, for example, threaded at one end and screwed into a tap 81 in the support ring 61. Lead-in conductors 82, 83 extend through the interior of the stem, and through passages provided in the ring, into electrical connection with the respective conducting strips 64, 66. Thus energization of the socket is effected through the strips and contacts, and is thereby maintained for all orientations of the beam director housing within the ring, while all wiring is entirely concealed. By virtue of the recessed positioning of the strips 64, 66 in the ring, such strips are held out of contact with the housing and thus insulated therefrom, even where the housing is of conducting material. In the event the housing is of non-conducting material, the strips need not be recessed and auxiliary insulating means need not be provided between the housing and contact screw and spring.

In order to provide for rotation of thesupport ring 61 about the axis of the hanger stem 79, a swivel joint may be incorporated therein, as indicated at 84-, or at the end attachment of the stem to a support member for example.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a circular support ring, and a light beam director housing including a portion having an elliptical cross section disposed within said ring in rotational sliding relation thereto with said ring being inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing portion and the entire inner circumference of the ring contacting the periphery of said housing portion.

2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1, further defined by retaining means carried by said housing portion respectively contacting opposite sides of said ring to maintain said ring in inclined relation to the longitudinal axis of said housing portion.

3. A lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said ring is inclined at an angle of to the longitudinal axis of said housing portion and the cross section of said housing portion is of a 45 ellipse.

4. A lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said ring is rotatable about an axis in angular relation to the plane of said ring.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a light beam director housing having an elliptical cross section, a circular support ring circumscribing said housing in rotatable sliding relation thereto, said ring inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing and the entire inner circumference of said ring contacting the periphery of said housing, a pair of retaining elements secured to said housing at longitudinally offset transversely opposed posi- 6 tions thereof and respectively engaging opposite side portions of said ring, and means mounting said ring for rotation about an axis in angular relation to the plane of said ring.

6. A lighting fixture according to claim 5, further defined by said ring having a square cross section with diagonally opposed corner edge portions defining the inner and outer circumferences of said ring, said retaining elements engaging intersecting flat side faces of said ring, and a stem perpendicularly rotatably secured to a flat side face of said ring.

7. A lighting fixture comprising an opaque housing having an elliptical cross-section, said housing having a closure at one end and a light beam outlet at the other end, a light receiving socket mounted within said housing adjacent said closure in facing relation to said beam outlet, a circular ring ci-rcumscribing said housing in rotatable sliding relation thereto, said ring inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing and the entire inner circumference of said ring contacting the periphery of said housing, means mounting said ring for rotation about an axis in angular relation to the plane of said ring, and a pair of rollers mounted upon said housing at longitudinally offset transversely opposed positions thereof and respectively engaging opposite side portions of said ring.

8. A lighting fixture according to claim 7, further defined by a tubular stem, swivel means securing said ring to said stem for rotation about the axis of said stem, and lead-in wires extending through the interior of said stem and emerging through the wall thereof to extend through said closure into connection with said socket.

9. A lighting fixture comprising a concave mounting member having a circular planar portion merging with a curving concavo-convex portion, said member having a circular rim, said planar portion inclined with respect to a plane containing said rim and having a concentric circular opening, a light beam director housing having an elliptical cross section disposed within said opening with the longitudinal axis of the housing inclined with respect to said planar portion and the periphery of the housing contacting the entire margin of the opening, retaining means carried by said housing respectively contacting opposite sides of said planar portion, and means mounting said member for rotation about an axis normal to said plane containing said rim.

16'. A lighting fixture comprising a fixture housing adapted for recessed mounting in a wall opening and having an open end, a trim flange operatively associated with said open end of said housing and including an upstanding rim disposed within said housing in parallel rela tion to the peripheral wall thereof and an annular flange portion inwardly flared from said rim, a concave mounting member having a circular planar portion merging with a curving concavo-convex portion, said member having a circular rim with an outwardly flared annular flange, said planar portion incline-d with respect to a plane containing said rim and having a concentric circular opening, means mounting said flange of said member upon said flange portion of said housing for rotation thereon, a light beam director housing having an elliptical cross section disposed within said opening of said planar portion with the longitudinal axis of the director housing inclined with respect to said planar portion and the periphery of the housing contacting the entire margin of the opening of said planar portion, and a pair of retaining elements secured to said housing at longitudinally offset transversely opposed positions thereof and respectively engaging opposite sides of said planar portion.

11. A lighting fixture comprising a housing having an elliptical cross section, said housing substantially closed at one end and having a light beam outlet at the other end, a light receiving socket mounted within said housing adjacent the closed end thereof in facing relation to said beam outlet, a ring circumsoribing said housing in rotatable sliding relation thereto, said ring inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing and the entire inner circumference of said ring contacting the periphery of said housing, a pair of annular strips of conductive material mounted in opposite side portions of said ring in insulated relation to each other and to said housing, a pair of conductive contact elements secured to said housing in insulated relation thereto and respectively contacting said strips, a pair of wires disposed in said housing electrically connecting said contact elements to respective terminals of said socket, a tubular stern secured to said ring, a pair of lead-in wires extending through the interior of said stem and respectively electrically connected to said strips, and swivel means incorporated in said stem for rotation of said ring about the stern axis.

12. A lighting fixture comprising a conductive housing having an elliptical cross section, said housing substantially closed at one end and having a light beam outlet at the other end, a light receiving socket mounted within said housing adjacent the closed end thereof in facing relation to said beam outlet, a pair of annular strips of conductive material mounted in recessed positions in opposite side portions of said ring and in insulated relation O o to each other, a contact element secured to said housing and having a portion projecting into contact with a first of said strips, means insulating said contact element from said housing, a spring clip contact element secured to said housing and resiliently contacting the second of said strips, means insulating said spring clip contact element from said housing, a pair of wires disposed in said housing electrically connecting said contact elements to respective terminals of said socket, a tubular stem secured to said ring, a pair of lead-in wire extending through the interior of said stem and respectively electrically connected to said strips, and swivel means incorporated in said stem for rotation of said ring about the stem axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1953 Peder 6/1961 Springer 24078 

1. A LIGHTING FIXTURE COMPRISING A CIRCULAR SUPPORT RING, AND A LIGHT BEAM DIRECTOR HOUSING INCLUDING A PORTION HAVING AN ELLIPTICAL CROSS SECTION DISPOSED WITHIN SAID RING IN ROTATIONAL SLIDING RELATION THERETO WITH SAID RING BEING INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HOUSING PORTION AND THE ENTIRE INNER CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE RING CONTACTING THE PERIPHERY OF SAID HOUSING PORTION. 